{"product_id":"the-four-rons-a-journey-through-west-midlands-football-in-the-1980s","title":"The Four Rons: A Journey Through West Midlands Football in the 1980s","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded\" style=\"padding-bottom: 24px;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded\" style=\"padding-bottom: 24px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold a-text-italic\"\u003eThe Four Rons\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003e charts West Midlands football’s dramatic decline in the 1980s, a crisis that mirrored the region’s wider struggles.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWritten by sportswriter and long-time Birmingham City supporter Bruce Talbot, a keen observer of West Midlands football for decades, this fascinating book:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"a-unordered-list a-vertical\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOffers a year-by-year account of the often spectacular decline of the West Midlands’ big four clubs – Aston Villa, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers – across the 1980s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBrings you the key characters who shaped a decade that began with three clubs in Europe, one the league champion and all four in Division One, but ended with three in the second tier and one in Division Four\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExplores the factors behind the decline of the big four: ego-driven owners, chaotic boardrooms and managers denied the support they needed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShows how the collapse of the West Midlands’ major clubs reflected the region’s wider struggles as its manufacturing base – especially its once-buoyant car industry – contracted sharply\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePaints a stark picture of a game in crisis, with plummeting attendances, dwindling revenue and widespread hooliganism\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeaturing a rich cast of unforgettable figures – from Ron Saunders and Ron Atkinson to the Bhatti brothers, Andy Gray and Steve Bull – this is the gripping story of a proud footballing heartland in freefall. Essential reading for West Midlands football fans and social-history readers alike.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBruce Talbot saw his first Birmingham City game in 1973 and witnessed the team’s decline first-hand during the 1980s. He has been a keen observer of West Midlands football ever since. A sportswriter for nearly 40 years, he has also worked in football media relations and is the author or co-author of seven books, including biographies of cricketers Ian Gould, Michael Yardy and Chris Adams.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e---\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003ePitch Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e22 x 14 cm\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHardback\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e256 pages\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAugust 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnglish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e9781836802662\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Bruce Talbot","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58627440771453,"sku":null,"price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/stanchionbooks.com\/products\/the-four-rons-a-journey-through-west-midlands-football-in-the-1980s","provider":"Stanchion Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}